Dear friends of Coro Lux,

It is soon time for us to begin our fourth season.  And, oh, what a season it will be!

This season will see us performing with the New Mexico Philharmonic twice:  the Chamber Chorus singing Bach’s Cantata #140 (“Wachet auf”) at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on September 30th, and the Oratorio Society giving two performances of Handel’s “Messiah,” Saturday, December 15th at Immanuel Presbyterian and Sunday, December 16th at Faith Lutheran.

Coro Lux, in conjunction with the United Church of Santa Fe, will sponsor a weekend workshop in Santa Fe, featuring internationally-known guest composer Libby Larsen.   Larsen, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, is not only a world-class composer, but also one of the great thinkers about the role of music in our society.  The workshop, held January 19th-20th (MLK, Jr., weekend) will include rehearsals of Libby’s music, including the world-premiere of a new piece written for the festival, discussions of how music creates community among diverse populations and a Sunday concert.  In addition, Dr. Kathleen Wilson will lead sessions on vocal technique.  And insights on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be shared by the Rev. Talitha Arnold.

On April 6th, the Oratorio Society will give the New Mexican premiere of a new work by Craig Hella Johnson.  In the words of the Washington Post “Considering Matthew Shepard” “demonstrates music’s capacity to encompass, transform and transcend tragedy. Powerfully cathartic, it leads us from horror and grief to a higher understanding of the human condition, enabling us to endure.”  Using a variety of musical styles, including hymn tunes, classical singing, cowboy songs and more, the premiere will illuminate this season’s theme of The Better Angels of Our Nature.

The Chamber Chorus will observe the 150th anniversary of Gioachino Rossini’s death when they present his Petite Messe Solennelle on November 18th, with its typical Rossinian combination of deep piety and vocal fireworks.  And our season concludes with our now annual, and very popular, concerts at the Canteen Brewhouse on May 4th.

The season has two overarching goals.  First, we want to present music of the highest quality in venues around our community and state at an affordable price.  Second, this season’s theme, as mentioned above, is The Better Angels of Our Nature.  Music has the ability to bring people together in ways nothing else can.

Much of our thinking has been guided by this quote from Lincoln: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

We hope to see you soon,

Bradley Ellingboe

Artistic Director
ABQ Coro Lux

Coro Lux — an auditioned chorus — has a generous scholarship program meant to help ALL who need financial help to participate, particularly those who are in the midst of, or who have recently finished, their schooling.

 For information about joining our chorus or contributing to our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, please email info@abqcorolux.org.